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Soul Whispering
The Art of Awakening Shamanic Consciousness
By Linda Star Wolf and Nita Gage
Foreword by Richard Rudd
Published by Bear & Company
Distributed by Simon & Schuster
Table of Contents
About The Book
Restore your relationship with your soul, break through patterns of dysfunction, and learn to hear the intuitive wisdom of your soul’s whisperings
• Explores shamanic tools, modern psychotherapy techniques, and ancient indigenous practices, such as the Native American medicine wheel
• Explains how to differentiate between your Inner Critic and the whisperings of your soul
• Details the Five Cycles of Change that we spiral through on our life’s journey of transformation, detailing what to do if you become stuck in one of the cycles
• Includes access to 5 audio journeys
Addressing humanity’s paradigm shift from linear consciousness to shamanic consciousness, Linda Star Wolf and Nita Gage explore how the art of soul whispering can help each of us understand why we experience our lives the way we do and shift from healing our wounds to embracing the process of transformation. This powerful new synthesis of shamanic healing and psychotherapy can help you restore your relationship with your soul, transform dysfunctional ways of being, learn to hear the intuitive wisdom and love of your soul’s whisperings, and develop the capacity to live in the present moment fully connected and alive.
Detailing the shamanic tools and psychospiritual practices of soul whispering, the authors share inspiring stories of transformation from their own journeys and their work as shamanic soul whisperers. They explain how soul whispering harnesses the power of the imaginal world to awaken shamanic consciousness, restore resiliency of mind, body, and spirit, and enact transformation at the cellular level. They show how soul whispering allows you to become conscious of your wounds, release the energy of victimization, and develop love and forgiveness for yourself and others. The authors explore mythological archetypes from Sumer and ancient Egypt to empower you in your life’s journey of transformation and explain the Five Cycles of Change that we continually spiral through, detailing what to do if you become stuck in one of the cycles.
Sharing the ageless wisdom of their collective shamanic experiences and personal journeywork, the authors show how soul whispering allows you to break free from your patterns of dysfunction, rekindle a profound soul connection, and shift your story from one of wounding and suffering to one of initiation and vibrancy.
• Explores shamanic tools, modern psychotherapy techniques, and ancient indigenous practices, such as the Native American medicine wheel
• Explains how to differentiate between your Inner Critic and the whisperings of your soul
• Details the Five Cycles of Change that we spiral through on our life’s journey of transformation, detailing what to do if you become stuck in one of the cycles
• Includes access to 5 audio journeys
Addressing humanity’s paradigm shift from linear consciousness to shamanic consciousness, Linda Star Wolf and Nita Gage explore how the art of soul whispering can help each of us understand why we experience our lives the way we do and shift from healing our wounds to embracing the process of transformation. This powerful new synthesis of shamanic healing and psychotherapy can help you restore your relationship with your soul, transform dysfunctional ways of being, learn to hear the intuitive wisdom and love of your soul’s whisperings, and develop the capacity to live in the present moment fully connected and alive.
Detailing the shamanic tools and psychospiritual practices of soul whispering, the authors share inspiring stories of transformation from their own journeys and their work as shamanic soul whisperers. They explain how soul whispering harnesses the power of the imaginal world to awaken shamanic consciousness, restore resiliency of mind, body, and spirit, and enact transformation at the cellular level. They show how soul whispering allows you to become conscious of your wounds, release the energy of victimization, and develop love and forgiveness for yourself and others. The authors explore mythological archetypes from Sumer and ancient Egypt to empower you in your life’s journey of transformation and explain the Five Cycles of Change that we continually spiral through, detailing what to do if you become stuck in one of the cycles.
Sharing the ageless wisdom of their collective shamanic experiences and personal journeywork, the authors show how soul whispering allows you to break free from your patterns of dysfunction, rekindle a profound soul connection, and shift your story from one of wounding and suffering to one of initiation and vibrancy.
Excerpt
3
Soul Whispering
The New Psychotherapy
Nita’s Story
Power Animals
The time came when my life was disrupted by soul longing for wholeness, manifesting as serious depression. Through grace, I found my way to a workshop on healing into wholeness. There I met Linda Star Wolf who taught us how to discover our power animal.
“Close your eyes and take long, slow breaths,” Star Wolf instructed.
“You are going on a journey to meet your power animal.”
Native Americans teach that we all come into this incarnation energetically tethered to a particular animal--a protector, guide, and soul friend. Often we dream of or have a fondness for a particular creature. This may be our power animal.
Being a “good girl” was my goal; I went to the workshop to find out how to be nicer and sweeter so that I would be happy. As I lay on the floor, I hoped my power animal would be a bunny or a hummingbird--yet I knew it was unlikely.
“Let the drumming take you,” Star Wolf encouraged, as the music started and the energy began to build. “You will begin to see or sense an animal presence. It may or may not be your power animal. Ask it--and if it isn’t, let it go.” Star Wolf ’s voice guided us as we all let go into the trance of altered reality.
I quickly began to encounter animals in my expanded state of consciousness. First, I saw a bunny hopping through a beautiful field. I asked, “Are you my power animal?”
“No, silly, I am just a bunny,” it quipped.
Next, I found myself flying high above the fields with a gaggle of geese. Again I inquired, hopefully, “Are you my power animals?”
“We are your guides to the land where you will find your power animal.”
The geese flew with me until I was plopped down in the middle of a jungle. Running toward me was a magnificent tiger. My heart pounded out of my chest, not for fear that it would hurt me, but rather knowing the tiger was my power animal. I didn’t have to ask her. It was evident that she was mine. I wanted a nice animal; instead I got a ferocious one. I feared I would cause destruction. Despite my trepidation, I reluctantly surrendered.
“Slowly, find yourself returning to ordinary reality,” Star Wolf ’s voice faded into my consciousness.
Accepting my fate, I listened to Star Wolf ’s next instructions: “Go for a walk in the woods and open yourself to seeing your power animal or to having an experience with it in some way.”
“Right,” I thought. “That will work for people whose animal is a bunny; clearly, I’m not going to see a tiger in the woods of rural Georgia.” Nonetheless, I dutifully set out on my walk. Rather quickly, I heard what sounded like a tiger roar, and I looked over and saw cows grazing. They looked quite frightened. It immediately occurred to me that I was still altered and had heard what I thought was a roar because I was tuned in to my imaginal tiger. I felt quite pleased with myself; I had conjured up a tiger! “Aren’t I the shamanic one?” I said out loud to the cows.
That evening we had a sharing circle led by therapist Jackie Small. As I eagerly awaited my turn, another woman shared her experience. “My power animal is a bear. I was sitting in the woods, hoping to see a bear, when a group of horseback riders passed by. The leader stopped and said, ‘You shouldn’t be sitting out here. A circus was passing through and a tiger escaped and is roaming these woods.’” The group gasped and Jackie said, “Yes, I heard that happened.”
At that moment, the room seemed to turn dark. I felt a seismic shift, and I was consumed by fear. In my panicked state, I yelled, “I’m out of here! You people are involved in black magic! I imagined a tiger, and now it has become real, and it is going to kill someone.”
Normally quite rational, I found myself in a fugue-like state of panic and rage. I was going to be the cause of someone’s death. I was determined to leave, but Jackie said, “Nita, I see you are terrified, and I want you to listen to me. What you are experiencing is deep synchronicity. You did not cause that tiger to escape.” She reached out and took my hand.
Her touch along with her calm and compassionate attention dropped me out of my panic. Jackie was whispering to my soul. I stared at her for a moment and then fully grasped that, of course, it was simply synchronicity.
Why did I have such a deep reaction of fear? I sensed that something was up for healing--something was trying to break through to my conscious mind--and this synchronicity was the catalyst. Rather than dismissing it as happenstance, I sat with a receptive heart and mind, allowing spirit to show me what it was trying to heal.
Held in safety and guided by soul whisperers, a remarkable thing occurred: It was as though the ceiling opened to the night sky and out of the darkness, starry words began to form. You did not conjure the tiger. And here is the real truth: You did not kill your mother. She died, and it was a synchronicity that your father always told you that you were killing her.
These were simple, profound, healing words that my soul needed. Held by the group energy, I cried, releasing years of grief.
A piece of my soul came back that night and has stayed with me. I let go of feeling depressed and embraced my grief. The power animal brought that piece home to me, healing the layers of fear and shame--and all because of a synchronicity.
Pay attention. Spirit is waiting to whisper to us at every moment.
Soul Whispering
The New Psychotherapy
Nita’s Story
Power Animals
The time came when my life was disrupted by soul longing for wholeness, manifesting as serious depression. Through grace, I found my way to a workshop on healing into wholeness. There I met Linda Star Wolf who taught us how to discover our power animal.
“Close your eyes and take long, slow breaths,” Star Wolf instructed.
“You are going on a journey to meet your power animal.”
Native Americans teach that we all come into this incarnation energetically tethered to a particular animal--a protector, guide, and soul friend. Often we dream of or have a fondness for a particular creature. This may be our power animal.
Being a “good girl” was my goal; I went to the workshop to find out how to be nicer and sweeter so that I would be happy. As I lay on the floor, I hoped my power animal would be a bunny or a hummingbird--yet I knew it was unlikely.
“Let the drumming take you,” Star Wolf encouraged, as the music started and the energy began to build. “You will begin to see or sense an animal presence. It may or may not be your power animal. Ask it--and if it isn’t, let it go.” Star Wolf ’s voice guided us as we all let go into the trance of altered reality.
I quickly began to encounter animals in my expanded state of consciousness. First, I saw a bunny hopping through a beautiful field. I asked, “Are you my power animal?”
“No, silly, I am just a bunny,” it quipped.
Next, I found myself flying high above the fields with a gaggle of geese. Again I inquired, hopefully, “Are you my power animals?”
“We are your guides to the land where you will find your power animal.”
The geese flew with me until I was plopped down in the middle of a jungle. Running toward me was a magnificent tiger. My heart pounded out of my chest, not for fear that it would hurt me, but rather knowing the tiger was my power animal. I didn’t have to ask her. It was evident that she was mine. I wanted a nice animal; instead I got a ferocious one. I feared I would cause destruction. Despite my trepidation, I reluctantly surrendered.
“Slowly, find yourself returning to ordinary reality,” Star Wolf ’s voice faded into my consciousness.
Accepting my fate, I listened to Star Wolf ’s next instructions: “Go for a walk in the woods and open yourself to seeing your power animal or to having an experience with it in some way.”
“Right,” I thought. “That will work for people whose animal is a bunny; clearly, I’m not going to see a tiger in the woods of rural Georgia.” Nonetheless, I dutifully set out on my walk. Rather quickly, I heard what sounded like a tiger roar, and I looked over and saw cows grazing. They looked quite frightened. It immediately occurred to me that I was still altered and had heard what I thought was a roar because I was tuned in to my imaginal tiger. I felt quite pleased with myself; I had conjured up a tiger! “Aren’t I the shamanic one?” I said out loud to the cows.
That evening we had a sharing circle led by therapist Jackie Small. As I eagerly awaited my turn, another woman shared her experience. “My power animal is a bear. I was sitting in the woods, hoping to see a bear, when a group of horseback riders passed by. The leader stopped and said, ‘You shouldn’t be sitting out here. A circus was passing through and a tiger escaped and is roaming these woods.’” The group gasped and Jackie said, “Yes, I heard that happened.”
At that moment, the room seemed to turn dark. I felt a seismic shift, and I was consumed by fear. In my panicked state, I yelled, “I’m out of here! You people are involved in black magic! I imagined a tiger, and now it has become real, and it is going to kill someone.”
Normally quite rational, I found myself in a fugue-like state of panic and rage. I was going to be the cause of someone’s death. I was determined to leave, but Jackie said, “Nita, I see you are terrified, and I want you to listen to me. What you are experiencing is deep synchronicity. You did not cause that tiger to escape.” She reached out and took my hand.
Her touch along with her calm and compassionate attention dropped me out of my panic. Jackie was whispering to my soul. I stared at her for a moment and then fully grasped that, of course, it was simply synchronicity.
Why did I have such a deep reaction of fear? I sensed that something was up for healing--something was trying to break through to my conscious mind--and this synchronicity was the catalyst. Rather than dismissing it as happenstance, I sat with a receptive heart and mind, allowing spirit to show me what it was trying to heal.
Held in safety and guided by soul whisperers, a remarkable thing occurred: It was as though the ceiling opened to the night sky and out of the darkness, starry words began to form. You did not conjure the tiger. And here is the real truth: You did not kill your mother. She died, and it was a synchronicity that your father always told you that you were killing her.
These were simple, profound, healing words that my soul needed. Held by the group energy, I cried, releasing years of grief.
A piece of my soul came back that night and has stayed with me. I let go of feeling depressed and embraced my grief. The power animal brought that piece home to me, healing the layers of fear and shame--and all because of a synchronicity.
Pay attention. Spirit is waiting to whisper to us at every moment.
Product Details
- Publisher: Bear & Company (April 24, 2017)
- Length: 288 pages
- ISBN13: 9781591432265
Raves and Reviews
“Soul Whispering is a book dearly needed in our times. Star Wolf and Gage combine their stunning wisdom as both professional therapists and deep-diving shamans to recover what has been fractured and lost and bridge us back to wholeness. Their decades of experience in the addiction and mental health fields and their extensive shamanic training seasoned with their heartfelt sense of humor make them heroines in my eyes. May you read this book and discover how you, too, are a Soul Whisperer.”
– HeatherAsh Amara, author of The Warrior Goddess Way
“Soul Whispering is a powerful shamanic map of soul remembering, weaving together ancient wisdom with modern psychology. Told with intimacy and compassion, this beautiful elucidation of the shamanic healing arts is a soul song from two visionary women who have walked the path with wide-open hearts. Their stories are brimming with bonedeep life lessons, embodied solutions, and soul flights of cosmic consciousness, which bridge seamlessly between the worlds.”
– Dr. Azra and Seren Bertrand, authors of Womb Awakening
“This is an extraordinary book by two extraordinary women. Star Wolf and Gage, highly respected shamanic healers of the first rank, have brought their considerable experience and wisdom to bear in this illuminating ‘guide for the perplexed’ that will both reward and mesmerize the reader. For those who have given up on conventional, by-the-numbers therapies that got them nowhere, this brilliant introduction to Soul Whispering is a remarkable and much-needed alternative. You won’t be disappointed.”
– M. Guy Thompson, Ph.D., author of The Death of Desire
“Soul Whispering makes the intangible realms shamans work with--such as shamanic consciousness, personality, and the soul--concepts that can be easily grasped. This book goes beyond our fixed ideas of shamanism by teaching us from the depths of the deeper soul, adding life-changing personal stories, all honestly conveyed. This work triggers points of wisdom in us at every turn.”
– E. Aracely Brown, senior program director at the New York Open Center
“Let Soul Whispering be your midwife in the journey of awakening your shamanic consciousness. The great challenge and opportunity we face is to be both fully human and divine at the same time. Star Wolf and Gage weave diverse paths of healing and transformation into wholeness so that we may embrace our full potential as soulful human beings.”
– Anna Cariad-Barrett, DMin, author of Shamanic Wisdom for Pregnancy and Parenthood
“Shamans view ‘soul loss,’ the wounding of a person’s unique energetic essence from trauma, as a leading cause of physical, emotional, and psychological dysfunction. In this fascinating, easy-to-read, and instructive book the authors guide us in the ways shamans and modern psychotherapy heal. A book for anyone who is on the path of personal transformation.”
– Itzhak Beery, author of The Gift of Shamanism
“Offered up by two authentic shamans, this book is about shifting our story from being the effect of our life (a victim) to being the cause (a conscious being). Read this book to discover real means to strengthen your shamanic powers in this world that is hungry for such soulfulness.”
– Julie Tallard Johnson, MSW, author of The Zero Point Agreement and Wheel of Initiation
"I cannot recommend the wisdom of this book more highly. Linda Star Wolf and Nita Gage are both responsible for my being on my soul’s path--they are the wise women healers that we all need for guidance on this glorious, but oh-so-messy, life path. This is a perfect time for the birthing of their wisdom into our changing and chaotic world--we desperately need the grounded, soul-deep guidance that they bring to each one of us. If you are in need of life or soul support, this is the book for you."
– Rachel Carlton Abrams, MD, MHS, ABIHM, author of BodyWise
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